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King Charles III leads Remembrance Sunday

King Charles III leads Remembrance Sunday

Newslooks- LONDON (AP)

The U.K fell silent for two minutes on Remembrance Sunday as King Charles III led the nation in honoring servicemen and women who lost their lives in past conflicts.

Britain’s King Charles III attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Toby Melville/Pool via AP)

Big Ben chimed 11 times to mark the start of the silence as thousands of veterans, including some who had served during the World War II looked on solemnly under gray London skies.

Members of the Royal Navy attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP)

It followed a two-minute silence signalled by the first chimes of Big Ben striking 11am and a volley from a gun fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery at nearby Horse Guards Parade.

Britain’s Prince William attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Toby Melville/Pool via AP)

Thousands of medal-wearing veterans, military families and the public packed Whitehall in central London for the traditional ceremony and watched as the sovereign laid a wreath at the memorial.

Britain’s King Charles III attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Toby Melville/Pool via AP)

Their number gets fewer each year – adding poignancy to the appearance of Charles, leading the ceremony for the first time since the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September. She had served as a mechanic and truck driver during the last months of World War II, and continued to join the annual commemoration in London well into her 90s.

Veterans attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Toby Melville/Pool via AP)

The veterans, with brightly shined shoes and medals gleaming on their lapels, watched Charles lay a newly designed wreath of poppies at the foot of the Cenotaph, London’s war memorial. Other royals, including the Prince of Wales and the Earl of Wessex, as well as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the leader of the opposition also laid wreaths.

From left, former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and former British Prime Minister Theresa May attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP)

Many thousands thronged the streets of London to watch the occasion and join in the silence, though they applauded when 10,000 veterans later marched past.

Veterans attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP)

Remembrance Sunday is marked every year in the U.K. on the closest Sunday to Armistice Day on Nov. 11 with the wearing of poppies and a national two-minute silence observed at 11 a.m. It marks the moment the guns fell silent in 1918 at the end of World War I.

Veterans attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP)

The solemn moment of reflection ended with buglers from the Royal Marines playing the Last Post.

The Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP)

The head of the armed forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, told Sky News there was a “special poignancy” to Remembrance Sunday this year following the Queen’s death and against the backdrop of the Ukraine war.

From second left, Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, left, Akshata Murty, wife of current British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Hugh O’Leary, husband of former British Prime Minister Liz Truss and Philip May, husband of former British Prime Minister Theresa May attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP)

It also marked the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.

Members of the Royal Family led by King Charles III attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP)

In Northern Ireland, Irish leader Micheal Martin and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris attended a Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Enniskillen 35 years on from an IRA bomb at the event.

Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, center, and Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament Alison Johnstone attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Eleven people died on the day of the attack at the town’s war memorial in 1987, with another victim dying years later having never woken from a coma.

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and the Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

It has become a recent tradition for Ireland’s prime minister to attend the Enniskillen event.

Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheal Martin, second left, attends the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Liam McBurney/PA via AP)

The King was joined at the Cenotaph by other members of the Royal Family, including the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Wessex, and the Princess Royal, who also laid floral tributes.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and former Prime Minister Theresa May attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Toby Melville/Pool via AP)

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also honoured the fallen on behalf of the government by leaving a wreath, followed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, other party leaders, senior members of the cabinet, military chiefs of staff and high commissioners.

Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lays a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Isabel Infantes/Pool via AP)

Also in attendance were seven former prime ministers – Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss and Boris Johnson attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Toby Melville/Pool via AP)

Watching from the balcony of a government building was the Queen Consort and the Princess of Wales.

Britain’s Camilla, the Queen Consort and Kate, Princess of Wales attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP)
Britain’s Camilla, the Queen Consort and Kate, Princess of Wales, right, attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Chris Jackson/Pool via AP)

A short service followed the laying of the main wreaths, with Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally leading a prayer.

Wreaths are laid during the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Other ceremonies to commemorate the war dead were held across the UK.

Wreaths are laid during the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon led tributes in Edinburgh while her government’s veterans’ minister, Keith Brown, travelled to the Falkland Islands to attend a remembrance event.

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon lays a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

The former Royal Marine served in the 1982 conflict.

Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lays a wreath during the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Isabel Infantes/Pool via AP)

The Queen, who died nine weeks ago at the age of 96, considered the Remembrance Sunday service one of the most significant and important engagements in the royal calendar.

Britain’s King Charles III attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Toby Melville/Pool via AP)

The nation’s longest-reigning monarch lived through the Second World War as a teenager, saw service as a military mechanic and was head of the armed forces.

Britain’s King Charles III attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Toby Melville/Pool via AP)

In an interview with Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme, chief of the defence staff Admiral Radakin said: “I think Remembrance Sunday is always poignant.

Britain’s King Charles III attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Toby Melville/Pool via AP)

“I think it’s poignant for the whole nation, this special moment when we pause to reflect on the sacrifice and commitment of others to provide our freedom today.

“I think there’s a special poignancy this year with both the loss of Her Majesty, another loss of a Second World War veteran.

The Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

“I also think it’s poignant when we have once again the spectre of war in Europe and all that that entails, and a country that’s been invaded and is fighting for its freedom.”

Officials said this year’s service is dedicated both to fallen soldiers in wars past and to Ukrainians fighting against Russia’s invasion.

People attend the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Isabel Infantes/Pool via AP)

“We must never forget those who gave their lives in defense of our values and our great nation,” said Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. “All of us will also be thinking of those brave Ukrainians who are fighting for their very own survival to defend freedom and democracy for all, just as the U.K. and Commonwealth soldiers did in both world wars.”

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday Nov. 13, 2022. (Toby Melville/Pool via AP)

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